No Bake Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake Parfaits Recipe brings crisp apples, creamy cheesecake, and buttery crumbs together in one speedy dessert. You get all the cozy apple pie flavor with zero oven time. I make these whenever I want something impressive without drama.
Easy No Bake Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake Parfaits Recipe
You build real apple pie flavor on the stove while the no bake cheesecake stays cool and fluffy. The layers look fancy, but you put them together in minutes. I pack them in small jars for parties and watch them vanish like a magic trick without the stage. Kids cheer for the caramel swirl, and grown ups ask for the recipe card.
I test this with different apples every fall, and it never lets me down. The cheesecake tastes rich, but the tart apples keep each bite balanced. The buttery crumbs deliver that apple pie feel without crust stress. You can scale the recipe for two or double it for a crowd.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Cheesecake layer
- Cream cheese 16 ounces, softened
- Powdered sugar three fourths cup
- Vanilla extract 2 teaspoons
- Lemon juice 1 teaspoon optional
- Heavy cream 1 cup very cold
Apple pie layer
- Apples 4 cups peeled, cored, and diced small Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work great
- Unsalted butter 2 tablespoons
- Brown sugar one half cup
- Granulated sugar 2 tablespoons optional for extra sweetness
- Ground cinnamon 1 to 1 and one half teaspoons
- Ground nutmeg one fourth teaspoon
- Lemon juice 1 tablespoon
- Pinch of salt
- Cornstarch 2 teaspoons mixed with 2 teaspoons cold water
Crumb layer
- Graham cracker crumbs 1 and one half cups
- Melted unsalted butter 5 tablespoons
- Brown sugar 2 tablespoons
- Pinch of salt
Caramel and toppings
- Thick caramel sauce 1 cup store bought or homemade
- Whipped cream optional
- Chopped pecans or walnuts optional
- Extra crumbs for garnish
Equipment
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Medium skillet or saucepan
- Mixing bowls
- Eight small jars or glasses about 8 to 10 ounces each
- Piping bag or zip top bag optional for tidy layers
How to Make No Bake Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake Parfaits
- Cook the apples. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and salt. Stir and cook until the apples turn glossy and just tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook 1 to 2 minutes until thick. Transfer to a bowl and cool to room temperature.
- Make the crumbs. Stir graham crumbs, brown sugar, salt, and melted butter in a bowl until the mix looks like wet sand. Set the bowl aside.
- Whip the cheesecake. Beat softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy. Mix in vanilla and lemon juice. In a cold bowl, whip heavy cream to soft peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese until smooth.
- Assemble the parfaits. Spoon or pipe a layer of crumbs into each jar. Add a layer of cheesecake, a spoonful of apples, then a drizzle of caramel. Repeat the layers so the jars look full and pretty. Top with whipped cream, nuts, and a pinch of crumbs.
- Chill and serve. Chill the jars for at least 30 minutes so the layers settle. Serve cold with extra caramel on the side.
Expert Tips
- Use tart crisp apples so the filling stays bright and not mushy.
- Cool the apple mixture fully so it does not melt the cheesecake.
- Warm the caramel just a touch so it drizzles clean lines.
- Pipe the cheesecake with a bag for tidy layers that look bakery level.
- Toast the nuts for 5 minutes in a dry pan for a deeper nutty crunch.
- Add a tiny pinch of flaky salt on top to balance the sweetness.
Variations and Substitutions
- Cookie swap
- Try gingersnap crumbs, Biscoff cookies, vanilla wafers, or shortbread.
- Lighter cheesecake
- Swap one third of the cream cheese for Greek yogurt.
- Gluten free
- Use gluten free cookies and a gluten free caramel sauce.
- Dairy free
- Use dairy free cream cheese, coconut cream, and a dairy free caramel.
- Nut free
- Skip nuts and add extra crumbs or mini chocolate chips.
- Spice twist
- Add a pinch of allspice or cardamom to the apples for a cozy twist.
- Caramel swap
- Use butterscotch or maple syrup if you want a different finish.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not add warm apples to the jars. Warm filling will deflate the cheesecake.
- Do not overbeat the cream cheese or you will trap too much air and cause a loose texture.
- Do not skip the chill time or the layers will slide.
- Do not use a runny caramel. Thin sauce will flood the crumbs.
- Do not cut the apples too large. Small dice gives clean layers and easy bites.
What to Serve with
- Strong coffee or cinnamon tea to match the cozy spices.
- A sharp cheddar plate for a sweet and savory moment.
- Savory snacks like spiced nuts or a simple cheese board before dessert.
- A scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream on the side for extra indulgence.
Leftovers and Storage Tips
- Fridge
- Cover each jar and chill for up to 3 days. The crumbs soften a bit on day two which tastes great with the apples.
- Freezer
- Freeze the apple filling and crumbs separately for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge, then assemble fresh with new cheesecake. I avoid freezing the assembled parfaits because the texture turns icy.
- Make ahead
- Cook the apples and mix the crumbs one or two days early. Whip the cheesecake the day you plan to serve, assemble, and chill until dessert time.
- Transport
- Pack jars in a shallow pan, tuck a towel around them, and keep them upright with ice packs under the pan.
Nutrition Information
Approximate per serving based on eight parfaits
- Calories about 520
- Carbohydrates about 56 grams
- Protein about 6 grams
- Fat about 30 grams
- Saturated fat about 17 grams
- Fiber about 3 grams
- Sugars about 43 grams
- Sodium about 260 milligrams
No Bake Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake Parfaits
A delicious no bake dessert combining caramel, apple pie filling, and creamy cheesecake in parfait form.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter until mixture resembles wet sand.
- Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of parfait glasses.
- In a bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
- Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture gently.
- Layer cheesecake mixture, apple pie filling, and caramel sauce in glasses.
- Repeat layers as desired and finish with a drizzle of caramel sauce on top.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Notes
You can substitute apple pie filling with fresh cooked apples for a fresher taste. Make sure cream cheese is softened for smooth blending.